Railway truck



y 14, 19400 o s. BARROWS 2,200,571

RAILWAY TRUCK Filed Nov. 10, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 1940- D. s. BARROWS,200,571

RAILWAY TRUCK Filed Nov. 10, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 relation to the guidecolumn surfaces.

Patented May 14, 1940 PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY TRUCK Donald S. Barrows,Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation,Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 10,1937, Serial No. 173,941.

23 Claims.

The present'invention relates to railway vehicle trucks with specificreference to the spring plankless type of truck in which the bolsterportion thereof functions as the sole intermediate structural connectionbetween spaced side frame members.

The spring plank of an ordinary truck structure was primarily designedto maintain the side frame members in proper spaced relation laterallyof the truck and also served to prevent one side frame from leading theother frame member, while in a spring plankless truck these functionsare performed by the bolster member.

The problem also arises, in the type of railway vehicle truck underconsideration, of permitting a certain amount of angling or horizontalrotative movement to the bolster member with respect to the side framemembers in order to impart a desired degree of flexibility in the truck.

The structure,'wherein the bolster is the sole intermediate structuralconnecting means and also of desired flexibility, necessitates theprovision of adequate bearing areas between the bolster member and sideframe members, said bear- I ing areas presenting surface contacts incontradistinction to'line contacts. 'It is, therefore, an object of thepresent invention to provide a bolster and associated side frame membersso constructed and arranged as to permit a limited transverse androtative angling movement of the bolster with respect to the side frameand with adequate bearing areas therebetween.

In order to minimize the wear between the side surfaces of the guidecOlumns, which comprise an integral portion of the frame members,

and the juxtapos'itionedsurfaces on the bolster end portion positionedtherebetween, it becomes another object of the present invention toprovide additional surfaces on the frame member and bolster inwardly ofthe truck and in spaced By the addition of these latter-named surfacesan appreciable resisting lever arm will also be provided to materiallyassist the guide columns in limiting the rotative or angling movement ofthe bolster, thereby eifectively maintaining the truck structure inproper alignment.

A still further object of the instant invention V is the provision, in aside frame, of bolster guide guide columns having a surface thereonspaced.

from and coradial with the guide column flange surfaces.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a railway truck, ofa side frame having guide columns with extensions provided on the innerflanges thereof and arranged to form a resisting lever arm adapted toserve as a brake hanger bracket and a bearing means for an associatedbolster at a location inwardly of the frame proper in order to assistthe guide columns in limiting the rotative movement of the bolster; theside frame and bolster being constructed inwardly of the truck in such amanner that they may be used interchangeably with bolsters and sideframes other than the particular types of the instant invention.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reference to theaccompanying drawings which form a part of the present description anddisclose a structure, exemplary in form, embodying a type of the instantinvention.

Considering the drawings generally, Figure 1 is a fragmentary frontelevational view of a railway vehicle truck embodying the presentinvention; a portion of the view is shown in vertical cross section.

Figure 2 is a plan view taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows; a portion of which is a top viewand another portion of which is a horizontal sectional view.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the sideframe memberdisclosed in Figure I, removed from the associated truck structure, andis taken along the lines 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction, of thearrows.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the bolster member shown inFigures 1 and 2 and removed from the associated truck structure.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference charactersare used to indicate like parts, the railway truck, designated generallyby the numeral 1, comprises a pair of transversely spaced side frames 2.While it will be understood that two such side frames are employed inarailway truck, only one is fragmentarily illustrated in the disclosedarrangement. Each side frame comprises a top or compression member 3 anda bottom or tension member 4 both of which are integrally connectedadjacent their intermediate portions by vertically disposed spaced guidecolumns 5 to form a Window or bolster receiving opening 5 therebetween.

The compression member outwardly of the guide columns comprisesdownwardly sloping portions 8, the ends of which merge into or areintegrally formed with journal boxes or journal box receiving jaws,neither of which are illustrated. The tension members 4 outwardly of theguide columns are directed upwardly, as at l, to also merge with theabove-recited journal boxes or journal box receiving jaws. The tensionmember portion 8 intermediate the guide columns is normally horizontallydisposed and provided, adjacent the upper edge thereof, with lateral ortransverse extensions 9. The transverse extensions which project oneither side of the tension member, together with the said tensionmember, form a spring group engaging or supporting portion of suitableor adequate area. The extensions 3 are preferably reinforced by spacedtriangular gussets it! formed integrally with the extensions and thetension member portion therebelow, thereby overcoming any hinging actionof the extensions about the tension member as the result of asuperimposed vertically acting load.

Extending between the side frame members and forming the soleintermediate structural frame connecting means is a vertically movablebolster ll, an end portion l2 of which occupies the upper portion of thewindow opening 5 and is movably associated with the guide columns. Anest of springs or spring group I3, indicated diagrammatically andcomposed of any desirable arrangement or types of springs, is interposedbetween the tension member and bolster end. The spring group ispositioned within the bolster opening 5 adjacent the lower portionthereof and functions as a resilient support for the bolster.

The guide columns 5, extending in a substantially vertical directionbetween the compression and tension members, comprise a transverse webI4 the side portions of which terminate in longitudinally disposed innerand outer flanges l5 directed away from the window opening and towardthe corresponding end portions of the side frame.

In the majority of truck constructions now in use each guide column ofthe side frame is provided with a web surface which is perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the frame and flange surfaces formingcontinuations of the web surface which are parallel to theabove-mentioned longitudinal axis. The bolster member is consequentlyarranged with correspondingly formed column engaging surfaces. It isparticularly true in the case of certain spring plankless type trucksthat any movement of the bolster away from a degree or perpendicularrelation with the associated side frames will cause line contactsbetween the bolster and side frames. By reason of the fact that thebolster moves vertically, due to the resilient mounting thereof andexternal impacts to which the entire structure is subjected, it will bereadily appreciated that the line contacts will wear progressively andrapidly. As this wear takes place the bolster will be free to rotatehorizontally or move angularly about the side frames beyond a permissiveor required degree and thus permit one side frame of a truck to lead theother, thereby presenting a structure out of alignment.

In order to overcome the above-recited and undesirable line contactconditions there is provided, on the guide column web M, a cylindricallyconcave surface [6 the vertical axis of which corresponds to theintersection of the planes of the longitudinal and transverse axes ofthe side frame, which will be hereinafter referred to as the verticalaxis of the side frame. Thus, the concave surfaces on the guide columnshave a common axis or, as it may be otherwise termed, the concavesurfaces are coaxial with respect to one another. The concave surface ISon each guide column merges into surfaces I! provided on the columnflanges l5 which diverge outwardly of the guide columns. The planes ofthe surfaces I! are angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of theside frame and are coradial with respect to one another. By thisarrangement, therefore, the web surfaces have a common axiscorresponding to the vertical axis of the side frame, and the flangesurfaces are coradial with the vertical axis of the side frame.

The end portion I 2 of the bolster l I, interposed between the guidecolumns, has oppositely disposed side walls l8 thereof formed with abulged or cylindrically convex vertically disposed surface 19 coaxialwith respect to one another and the vertical axis of the side frame. Theconvex bolster surfaces are preferably spaced from the concave columnsurfaces an amount sufficient to allow for a free vertical movement ofthe bolster with respect to the side frame. This permissive clearancealso results in a limited longitudinal movement of the bolster withrespect to each side frame. By thus arranging the coaxial convex andconcave surfaces on the bolster end and guide columns respectively, itwill be readily appreciated that the bolster will be free to pivot aboutor angle horizontally with respect to the side frame. In addition toaffording a relative rotative movement to. the bolster the concave andconvex surfaces will also provide an increased bearing, wear or guidesurface between the side frame and bolster.

Projecting outwardly of the bolster side walls are vertically disposedinner and outer guide lugs 20 and 20 respectively which are adapted toengage the inner and outer flanges of the guide column, and areprimarily intended to retain the bolster end within the window opening.Longitudinally disposed ribs 2! are formed integrally with the inner andouter guide lugs and the side walls adjacent the lower edge of thebolster end, thereby adding rigidity to the bolster end construction aswell as providing a suitable or adequate bearing area for the underlyingsprings l3. The guide lugs are provided with inwardly facing surfaces 22which form continuations of or define the convex side wall surfaces andare coradial therewith, that is, the planes of the surfaces 22 intersecteach other at the axis of the convex surface. The surfaces 22, which arein spaced relation to the guide column surfaces in order to permit thebolster to angle horizontally with respect to the side frames andthereby incorporate in the truck structure the desired degree offlexibility, are adapted to engage the column flange surfaces I l. Thelug surfaces 22 engaging the column surfaces l'l form a limiting or stopmeans in order to restrict the pivotal or horizontal angling movement ofthe bolster beyond a predetermined degree with an appreciable amount ofbearing area therebetween.

However, in spring plankless trucks, wherein the column flange surfacesform a limiting means in order to prevent the lateral as well ashorizontal angling movement of the bolster, the bearing areastherebetween have been found at times to be insufficient, that is, thecontacting surfaces are subjected to such wear that the lives of thebolster and side frame members are curtailed materially. It is,therefore, with this thought in mind that additional coacting surfaceshave been provided between the bolster and side frame. To accomplish theaddition of coacting limiting surfaces or bearing pads, an extension23projecting inwardly of the truck from the inner flange l5 of each of theguide columns has been provided. The extension comprises a verticallydisposed web 24 extending substantially transversely of the truckstructure and the inner end portion 25 of which is angularly disposed ina direction toward the bolster. A flange 28 is provided at the freeextremity of the end portion 25, said flange having an outer surface 2'!thereof lying in a plane which is radially disposed with respect to thevertical center of the side frame. The surface 21 is, therefore, co-

radial with the surfaces I! on the inner and outer column flanges and ispositioned inwardly of the truck in spaced relation to the guide columnsurfaces.

The bolster side walls are convoluted or embossed outwardly from thenormal plane thereof, as at 28, at a position intermediate the ends ofthe bolster. Each of the convoluted portions 2!} are provided with anouter surface 29 positioned oppositely the adjacent extension flangesurface 21. The plane of each surface 29 intersects the vertical axis ofthe side frame. This, therefore, disposes the surfaces 29 in a coradialrelation with the guide lug surfaces 22. The distance or clearancebetween the embossed portion surface 29 and the adjacent extensionflange surface 21 is, of course, somewhat greater than the distance orclearance between the column flange surfaces i1 and guide lug surfaces22. By this arrangement the bolster surfaces 22 and 29 will contact orengage the side frame surfaces I! and 2! simultaneously upon relativerotative movement of the bolster.

The extension is preferably so constructed that the actual leverage armformed thereby merely extends for the lateral distance of the webportion 24, and in order to rigidify the extension and resist orovercome the hinging action of the extension about the base thereof orthe inner guide column flange, vertically spaced top and bottomintegrally formed ribs 3i! and 3| extend respectively from thecompression member and outer column flange to the free extremity of theextension flange 26.

A brake hanger or brake link support has been incorporated in theextension structure by the provision of an intermediate rib 32 extendingoutwardly from the vertical web- 24 and spaced below the top rib 30. Theintermediate rib 32 is preferably disposed in an upward direction tocorrespond with that portion of the top rib immediately thereabove. Theintermediate and top ribs form an outwardly opening jaw for thereception of a brake hanger or support (not shown). Aligned apertures 33are provided in the top and intermediate ribs for the reception of asuitable pin or brake hanger retaining means.

7 From the foregoing it will beseen that an adequate bearing area hasbeen provided between the bolster and side frame to limit the rotativeor horizontal angling movement of the bolster and therebyeifectivelyretain the entire structure in proper alignment. It will also beobserved that by embossing or convoluting the side walls of the bolsteroutwardly from the normal plane thereof and so constructing theextensions 23,

"a side frame without the particular disclosed design of extension maybe used in combination with the instant bolster, and the converse ofthis is also'possible.

I claim:

1. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame having a bolsteropening defined by guide columns, said guide columns having innercylindrical surfaces concave about the vertical axis of said frame, abolster with an end portion positioned in said opening and formed with,outer cylindrically convex surfaces cooperating with said concavesurfaces to allow for horizontal angling of said bolster with respect tosaid frame, brackets extending inwardly of said truck from said frame,and angularly disposed surfaces on said brackets spaced from said guidecolumns adapted to engage correspondingly disposed surfaces on saidbolster for limiting said horizontal angling of said bolster, saidbracket surfaces being substantially coradial with respect to saidvertical axis.

2. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame having a bolsteropening defined by guide columns, said columns each having side flangesprovided with outwardly facing surfaces coradial with the vertical axisof said frame, a bolster with an end portion received in said openingand formed with inwardly facing surfaces spaced 'from and coradial withsaid frame surfaces to allow for horizontal angling of said bolster withrespect to the side frame, brackets extending inwardly of said truckfrom. said frame having surfaces spaced from the column surfaces, saidbracket surfaces being substantially coradial with respect to saidvertical axis of the frame, and surfaces on said bolster adapted toengage said bracket surfaces.

3. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame having a bolsteropening defined by guide columns, each guide column having a transverseweb and side flanges, said transverse webs having surfaces thereofconcavely curved and coaxial with respect tothe vertical axis of theside frame, said flanges having surfaces coradial with respect to thesaid side frame vertical axis, a bolster adapted to angle horizontallywith respect to said side frame having an end portion positioned in saidopening, said bolster end comp-rising convexly curved surfaces definedby end surfaces adapted to engage said web and flange surfacesrespectively of said columns, brake hanger brackets extending inwardlyof said truck from said columns, and an angularly disposed flange onsaid bracket coradial'with said column flange surfaces and forming abearing pad adapted to engage a correspondingly formed pad on said.

bolster.

frame having a bolster opening defined by guide columns, each ,of saidguide columns having a transverse web and an inner side flange,concavely curved surfaces on said transverse webs coaxial with respectto the vertical axis of the side frame, surfaces on said inner flangescoradial with said side frame vertical axis, a bolster adapted to anglehorizontally with respect to the side frame having an end portionreceived in said opening and comprising surfaces positioned adjacent andcoaxial with said concave surfaces, outwardly extending lugs provided onsaid bolster having surfaces coradial with and adapted to engage saidside flange surfaces, brake hanger brackets extending inwardly of saidtruck from said columns, and an angularly disposed end flange on each ofsaid brackets being coradial with said inner flange surfaces and adaptedto engage a correspondingly disposed portion of said bolster.

5. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame having a bolsteropening defined by guide columns, said guide columns having innercylindrical surfaces concave about the vertical axis of said frame, abolster with an end portion received in said opening and formed withouter cylindrically convex surfaces cooperating with said concavesurfaces to allow for horizontal angling of said bolster, brake hangerbrackets ex tending inwardly of said truck from said guide columns, andangularly disposed surfaces on said brackets coradial with said sideframe vertical axis and adapted to engage correspondingly disposedsurfaces on said bolster for limiting said horizontal movement of saidbolster.

6. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame having a bolsteropening defined by guide columns, said columns having side flanges provided with outwardly facing surfaces coradial with the vertical axis ofsaid frame, a bolster with an end portion received in said opening andformed with inwardly facing surfaces spaced from and coradial with saidside frame surfaces to allow for horizontal angling of said bolster withrespect to the side frame, and extensions on said columns projectinginwardly of said truck from said guide columns and having surfacesspaced from and coradial with said column surfaces adapted to engagecomplementary surfaces on said bolster.

7. A side frame having a bolster opening defined by guide columns, saidguide columns having transverse webs formed with cylindrically curvedsurfaces coaxial with respect to each other and the vertical axis ofsaid side frame to allow for horizontal angling of an associatedbolster, an inner flange on each of said columns having an angularlydisposed surface coradial with said side frame vertical axis, andextensions projecting from said column flanges having surfaces thereofin spaced relation and coradial with said inner flange surfaces adaptedto engage bolster surfaces for limiting the horizontal movement of saidbolster.

8. A truck bolster arranged for horizontal angling with respect to anassociated side frame and having end portions each of which comprisescylindrically convex surfaces coaxial with respect to one another andthe vertical axis of said side frame, inwardly facing surfaces definingsaid convex surfaces and coradial with said side frame vertical axis,and bearing pads positioned intermediate the ends of said bolster havingsurfaces thereof coradial with said inwardly facing surfaces.

9. A truck bolster arranged for horizontal angling with respect to anassociated side frame and having spaced side walls adjacent the endportions thereof, each side wall having a cylindrically convex surface,inner and outer guide lugs extending outwardly of the side wallsprovided with surfaces defining said cylindrical surfaces and coradialwith respect to one another, and bearing pads extending from said sidewalls in lateral spaced relation to said guide lugs; said pads havingsurfaces coradial with said guide lug surfaces.

10. In a railway truck, a side frame having spaced guide columnsdefining a bolster opening, each of said guide columns having an innercylindrical concave surface coaxial with the versaid webs having thesurfaces thereof coradial with said side frame vertical axis, convolutedportions on said bolster provided with a surface coradial with saidflange surfaces, said convoluted portion surfaces being adapted toengage said extension flange surfaces to limit the rotative movement ofthe bolster.

11. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame having a bolsteropening defined by guide columns, each of said columns having sideflangesprovided with outwardly facing surfaces coradial .1

with the vertical axis of said frame, a bolster with an end portionreceived in said opening and formed with inwardly facing surfaces spacedfrom and coradial with said column flange surfaces to allow forhorizontal angling of said bolster :11

with respect to the side frame, extensions on said columns projectinginwardly of the truck and having surfaces thereon spaced from andcoradial with said column surfaces, said bolster having surfaces spacedfrom the inwardly facing surfaces and coradial with said extensionsurfaces, and spaced ribs extending longitudinally of the truck fromsaid extensions to form therewith outwardly opening jaws for thereception of a brake support.

12. A side frame comprising longitudinally spaced extensions projectingfrom one side thereof, said extensions terminating in flanges havingsurfaces coradial with respect to one another and the vertical axis ofsaid side frame.

13. A side frame comprising longitudinally spaced extensions projectingfrom one side thereof, each of said extensions having a websubstantially parallel with a transverse vertical plane of the sideframe and a flange angularly disposed to said web, said flange of eachextension hav ing a surface thereof substantially coradial with respectto the line of intersection of vertical planes passing through thelongitudinal and transverse axes of said side frame.

14. A side frame comprising spaced extensions projecting from one sidethereof, each extension comprising a web and an end portion angularlydisposed to said web, each end portion terminating in an angularlydisposed flange, and surfaces A on said flanges angularly disposed to alongitudinal vertical plane of said side frame and coradial with respectto one another.

15. A side frame comprising longitudinally spaced extensions projectingfrom one side thereof, each of said extensions having a surface spacedfrom said side frame and substantially coradial with respect to the lineof intersection of vertical planes passing through the longitudinal andtransverse axes of said side frame.

16. A side frame having a bolster opening defined by guide columns, eachof said columns having side flanges provided with outwardly facingsurfaces substantially coradial with the vertical axis of said frame,extensions on said columns projecting from one side of said frame, asurface on each of said extensions substantially coradial with saidoutwardly facing surfaces, and vertically spaced ribs directedlongitudinally of said frame from each extension to form jaws for thereception of a brake support.

1'7. A side frame having longitudinally spaced extensions projectingfrom one side thereof, each of said extensions comprising a webterminating in an angularly disposed portion, a flange angularlydisposed to and forming a continuation of each of said angularlydisposed portions, each of said flanges having surfaces thereof whichare angularly disposed to a longitudinal vertical plane of said sideframe, and vertically spaced ribs integral with each of said webs toform a support for brake rigging.

18. A load-carrying member having an end portion including spaced sidewalls, longitudipnally spaced guide column engaging surfaces on saidside walls being substantially coradial with respect to one another, andadditional surfaces on each of said side walls in spaced relation tosaid first-mentioned surfaces, said additional surfaces beingsubstantially coradial with said firstmentioned surfaces.

19. A load-carrying member having an end portion adapted to engage guidecolumns of an associated side frame, said member having surfacespositioned intermediate said guide column engaging portion and a centralportion thereof, said surfaces being substantially coradial with avertical axis formed by the line of intersection of transverse andlongitudinal vertical planes of said side frame.

20. A load-carrying member arranged and constructed for horizontalangling with respect to an associated side frame, said membercomprisgage guide columns of said side frame, said side from said sideframle engaging portions, and" surfaces on said convoluted portionssubstantially coradial with a vertical axis formed by the line ofintersection of transverse and longitudinal vertical planes of said sideframe.

21. In a movable element for use with a railway truck, in combination,spaced side Walls, a pair of surfaces on each side wall substantiallycoradial with respect to one another, and an outwardly facingadditionalsurface on each side wall spaced from each pair of surfaces and beingsubstantially coradial therewith.

22. In a movable element for use with a railway truck adapted to anglein a horizontal plane with respect to a side frame, in combination,spaced side walls, a pair of plane surfaces on each side wallsubstantially coradial with respect to one another, a cylindricalsurface on each side wall adjacent at least one of said plane surfaces,said cylindrical surfaces being coaxial with respect to one another, andan additional plane surface on each side wall spaced from each pair ofsurfaces and being substantially coradial therewith.

23. A side frame comprising spaced vertically disposed members definingan opening therebetween, inner and outer plane surfaces on each of saidmembers substantially coradial with respect to one another, and anadditional surface on each of said members spaced outwardly of saidvertically disposed members and from said firstnamed surfaces; saidadditional surfaces being substantially coradial with said first-namedsurfaces.

DONALD S. BARROWS.

Lil

